Around 50 people lose their lives on Cyprus roads each year, with young people under 24 accounting for a quarter of all fatalities, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said on Thursday, warning that most of these deaths are preventable.

The figures were pointed out during a high-level road safety event at the Traffic Education Park in Nicosia, co-organised by the Police Traffic Department and the European Transport Safety Council under the EU’s Road Safety Performance Index programme. Officials and experts agreed that, despite progress in recent years, further action is urgently needed to meet European targets.

“Every year approximately 50 people lose their lives on the roads of Cyprus, with hundreds more seriously injured, while young people under 24 account for a quarter of all road fatalities,” Vafeades said. He noted that motorcyclists, many of them young, represent nearly 30% of deaths, with over 60% of crashes occurring in urban areas.

“The causes are known, excessive speed, impairment and distraction, however, these losses are entirely preventable,” he stressed.

The Μinister outlined a broad strategy, including stricter penalties, modernised legislation and the possible introduction of tougher probationary licences for new drivers. He added that Cyprus’ Road Safety Strategic Action Plan includes 28 policies and 158 measures aligned with the EU goal of halving road deaths by 2030.

“Road safety ambassadors work alongside police to engage students and military personnel,” he said, adding that programmes are expanding to tackle smartphone use, “a critical danger for young people”. Measures such as 30 km/h urban speed limits, smart cameras and intelligent transport systems are also being rolled out.

Speaking on behalf of Justice Minister Costas Fitiris, Permanent Secretary George Panteli stressed that road safety is not only about enforcement but also culture and responsibility.

“Behind every serious road collision there is not just a statistic, but a family tested and a young life that may be lost in seconds,” he said, emphasising that prevention must begin early through education, family influence and awareness. “Road safety is judged not only on our roads, but on our daily choices and behaviour.”

Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis said young people are both the future of society and one of the most vulnerable groups on the road.

“Limited experience, overestimation of abilities and poor risk perception can lead to dangerous behaviour,” he said, calling for stronger road education, strict rule enforcement and better use of technology. He added that cooperation between state authorities, families and schools is essential to reduce collisions and their consequences.

Data presented by Traffic Department director Haris Evripidou showed that road deaths declined significantly between 2001 and 2020, particularly after Cyprus joined the EU. However, the trend has stagnated in recent years, with 45 deaths recorded in 2025, 41 in 2024 and 34 in 2023. To meet EU targets, fatalities must fall to 26 annually by 2030.

Evripidou identified distraction, alcohol, driving on the wrong side of the road and drug use as leading causes of fatal crashes. He also noted that 74% of victims are men.

From the Road Safety Council, Haris Christodoulou said previous targets to cut fatalities by 50% were not met, with only a 20% reduction achieved, although serious injuries fell sharply. The new 2021–2030 strategy aims for a 50% reduction in deaths and serious injuries overall, and 60% among motorcyclists and in urban areas.

He also noted the “Safe System” approach, designed to tolerate human error and minimise its consequences, and described Cyprus’ expanding network of speed and traffic cameras as a successful enforcement tool.

From the European Transport Safety Council side, the European road safety programme Road Safety PIN was presented, along with its findings on the safety of young drivers and powered two-wheeler riders in the EU and Cyprus. The discussion was further enriched by road safety experts from Greece and the United Kingdom, who contributed their knowledge and experience.

Source: CNA (ΚΥΠΕ)